New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson said the NBA champions have not yet discussed visiting the White House to celebrate their title, according to an interview conducted by Variety.
Brunson’s admission comes after Knicks owner James Dolan said the franchise had already accepted an invitation to make a visit to Washington.
“... People are making assumptions and saying everything, but together we haven’t discussed it yet, and so we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Brunson said in a story published Monday by Variety.
Dolan, a friend of U.S. President Donald Trump, said last month that a visit to the White House was in the works, pending “details.” Trump was a guest of Dolan’s during Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York.
No NBA champion has visited the White House while Trump has been in office, starting with his first term. Three NBA champions visited President Joe Biden: the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2022 Golden State Warriors and the 2024 Boston Celtics.
MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, who won last year’s World Series, are scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday. The Dodgers also visited last year to celebrate their 2024 title.
Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP following the Knicks’ triumph over the San Antonio Spurs in five games. He scored 45 points in the title-clinching win, averaged 32.6 points in the Finals and scored 28.4 points in 19 playoff games.
New York’s title was the franchise’s first since 1973.
